Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-01

week to get his grist ground.
The pioneers of Illinois are numbered
among the grandest men who have ever
dwelt on the face of the earth. On these
prairies they had lawyers who were truly
learned without books; they had Judges
who knew the element of the law, aud
who did not and could not look for pre-
cedents made by other courts. They
rendered decisions, as it were, straight
out from the shoulder They knew few
things well, while those of today, in the
multitude of books and literature, are apt
to know many things but impetfectly.
To-DAY's PICNIC.
The meeting was called to order
shortly after II O'Clock bv A. M.
Hubbard, president. ELECT of the as
ISOLATION. who stated that at the
outset OF the proceedings he had an ex>
c@edingly unpleasant announcement to
make. He then read letter from Mr. J..
I. KeDworthy. the secretary of the soci-
ETY., in which that gentleman stated that
owing to pressing professional business
in the upper end of the county, he would
be unable to attend the meeting IL was
the first time Mr.. Kenworthy had
been absent from one of the ass
suciation's meetings since he has
held his present important Office, and
there was much regret over the announce
ment that he could not attend. Mr.. J
H. Cleland was then elected secretary pro
TEN. There was music by the Deere
band, prayer by Rev J. s. McCord, and
singing by the giee club. The president
then invited as many of the old settlers
as possible, especially the ex>presidents. to
take seats on the platform. Among those
who responded were David Halves, John
A Boyer, W. H. Edwards, Mai Wilson,
SW McMaster Jonathan Huntoon, Benz.
Gable John Taylor, John Lusk. D. N
Beal, Mr.. Wainright Daniel Edgington.
Geo. NJ. Mixter, Daniel Goble.
President Hubbard then stated that he
had another sad duty to perform; it was
to announce that the president of the
society, Ira G. Whitehead, had probably
met with it for the last time He had
called on Mr.. Whitehead few DAYS
since and found him confined to his
room. from which he would probably
never come out alive. The president
had entrusted to him a message: 1t was
that he had hoped and expected to meet
with the society this time, but that il
was impossible, snd now he never ex-
pected to see the members together
again. He
WISHED To BE REMEMBERED
and hoped that the proceedings of the
meetings of the society would continue tC
be carried on pleasantly and harmonious
ly. Mr.. L D. Edwards, one of the vict
presidents, was then called upon to per
form the duties of the retiring president.
He said he regretted the circumstanc,
which placed him before the assemblage
1t was the first instance, he believed, il
the history of the ASSOCIATION. where tn
retiring president had not been able to b.
present at the time of the transfer of tn
cane, and he hoped such circumstance
would never occur again He paid
tribute to the sick president and spok'
briefly of the history of the county, it
advantages, resources, etc, which wer
of such character that the old settler
who had lived here 80 many years coul'
scarcely appreciate The Rock Islant
county early settlers were as worthy o
respect and hallowed memory as were tn
Puritans. The deprivatious which the
| endured were just as severe. In behal
of the retiring president he presented tn,
cane to the president elect, Mr. a. NJ
Hubbard, terming 1t not only an emblem
of support, but one of honored memory
PRESIDENT ELECT HUBBARD,
in responding, said he could scarcely fin
words to express his feelings on such a
occasion. He could only say at this tim
that he received it not so much a
an emblem of authority but a
q token of friendship and goo
will from friends be loved III
spoke of the associations connects
with the cane, its history. etc. 1t ha
been cut from tree ON the island o
Rock Island by Geo. Davenport, an
presented BY descendant Of his family
Mr.. Bailey Davenport, to the Old Settler,
association. 1t contains the names @
the society-twenty -one in all.
THE BEAUTIFUL STAFF
of honor and authority bears the follow
ing names of the society's presidents t
| al